Vacuum attachment for a blower

Abstract

A vacuum attachment ( 1 ) for a blower ( 2 ), comprising: an input air channel ( 3 ) having an air inlet ( 4 ); and a through channel ( 5 ) from a vacuum inlet ( 6 ) to an outlet ( 7 ), in which the input air channel ( 3 ) terminates in a port ( 8 ) in the through channel ( 5 ), in which the port ( 8 ) is positioned so as to direct air flowing from the input air channel ( 3 ) in a direction through the through channel ( 5 ) away from the vacuum inlet ( 6 ), in which the air inlet ( 4 ) has a mounting surface ( 9 ) on which can be mounted an air outlet ( 10 ) of the blower ( 2 ) in a releasable and re-engagable manner. Thus, with a blower ( 2 ) connected to the air inlet ( 4 ), an airflow introduced at the air inlet ( 4 ) will cause an airflow from the vacuum inlet ( 6 ) to the outlet ( 7 ), entraining debris with the airflow.

1 . A vacuum attachment for converting a blower into a vacuum apparatus, comprising:
 an input air channel having an air inlet; and   a through channel from a vacuum inlet to an outlet, in which the input air channel terminates in a port in the through channel, the port is positioned so as to direct air flowing from the input air channel in a direction through the through channel away from a vacuum inlet; the through channel has an inner circumference and the port extends around at least three quarters of this circumference; the air inlet has a mounting surface on which can be mounted an air outlet of the blower in a releasable and re-engagable manner.   
     
     
         2 . The attachment of  claim 1 , in which the input air channel comprises a shell surrounding at least a portion of the through channel. 
     
     
         3 . The attachment of  claim 2 , in which the shell and the portion of the through channel are cylindrical and/or coaxial. 
     
     
         4 . The attachment of  claim 2 , wherein the through channel has an oval or elliptic cross sectional shape. 
     
     
         5 . The attachment of  claim 2 , in which the input air channel comprises an input tube between the air inlet and the shell. 
     
     
         6 . The attachment of  claim 5 , in which the input tube is cylindrical, and has a cross-sectional shape that is circular, oval, elliptic, square, rectangular or square with rounded corners. 
     
     
         7 . The attachment of  claim 5 , in which the input tube and the shell have internal cross sectional areas, the internal cross sectional area of the input tube being less than the internal cross sectional area of the shell, the input air channel comprising a transition portion between the input tube and the shell, the transition portion having a cross sectional area smoothly varying from that of the input tube to that of the shell. 
     
     
         8 . The attachment of  claim 1 , in which the input air channel changes direction by more than 90 degrees through the port. 
     
     
         9 . The attachment of  claim 8 , in which the input air channel changes direction smoothly through the port. 
     
     
         10 . The attachment of  claim 8 , in which the port has a radius of curvature, which is greater than the width of the exit of the port. 
     
     
         11 . The attachment of  claim 1 , in which one port extends entirely around the circumference. 
     
     
         12 . The attachment of  claim 1 , comprising a collection container coupled to the outlet. 
     
     
         13 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the through channel is substantially straight from the vacuum inlet to the outlet. 
     
     
         14 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the through channel widens towards the outlet. 
     
     
         15 . The attachment of  claim 14 , wherein the angle of inclination of the internal walls of the through channel to a central axis of the through channel is between 5 and 20 degrees. 
     
     
         16 . The attachment of  claim 1 , comprising a tail part extending between the port and the vacuum inlet. 
     
     
         17 . The attachment of  claim 16 , in which the tail part defines part of the through channel. 
     
     
         18 . The attachment of  claim 17 , in which the through channel has an internal diameter and the port is spaced at least half an internal diameter along the through channel from the vacuum inlet. 
     
     
         19 . The attachment of  claim 18 , in which the tail part defines the through channel along at least half an internal diameter of the through channel. 
     
     
         20 . The attachment of  claim 1 , formed of two inter-engaging pieces, an insert and a channel member which defines part of the through channel, the insert and the channel member being held captive between the inter-engaging pieces and defining between them walls of the port. 
     
     
         21 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment is formed as at least three separate mouldings that are fit together. 
     
     
         22 . The attachment of  claim 21 , wherein a second moulding of the at least three separate mouldings is airtight fit over a first moulding. 
     
     
         23 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein an air outlet of a blower is coupled to the air inlet of the attachment. 
     
     
         24 . A backpack mounted vacuum apparatus, comprising a source of pressurized air, an input air channel having an air inlet coupled to the source, a through channel from a vacuum inlet to an outlet, in which the input air channel terminates in one port extending around an internal circumference of the through channel, the port is positioned so as to direct air flowing from the input air channel in a direction through the through channel away from the vacuum inlet, and the port extends around at least three quarters of the circumference. 
     
     
         25 . The vacuum apparatus of  claim 24 , in which the port extends entirely around the circumference of the through channel. 
     
     
         26 . (canceled)